The Tower was built by the Spanish in the late 16th century to control maritime raids by Saracen pirates. It was categorized as a “torre de armas,” capable of withstanding any kind of naval fire. Active militarily until 1867, it had a garrison consisting of an Alcalde (the commander), a gunner and, depending on the period, three or more soldiers. The available armament included two guns of “2 x 6” caliber and four rifles. The building has an extremely simple structure with no decorative elements, fully in keeping with the main model of the Spanish defensive tower, which was meant to meet standards of solidity and economy. The interior is characterized by a central room equipped with a fireplace for heating and cooking food and an internal staircase in the masonry walls that leads to the terrace or “Square of Arms.”
